DARYL MELHAM MP
Member for Banks

The 2012-13 Budget will deliver much-needed cost of living relief to thousands of households across Barton and Banks.

“This Budget is all about making sure all Australians share in the benefits of the mining boom and our strong economy, not just the fortunate few,” Mr McClelland said.

“I know many people in our community feel like this is somebody else’s mining boom.”

“That’s why the budget will spread the benefits of the mining boom to help everyday Australians with cost of living pressures,” he said.  

• Delivering a new cash payment to 14,500 local families with kids in schools. Parents will receive $410 for each child in primary school and $820 for each child in high school as part of the new Schoolkids Bonus.
• Increasing family payments by up to $600 for more than 20,000 local families. Flowing from July next year, this extra support will be made to families currently receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A payments. 
• Providing extra money to help pay the bills to more than 14,100 local young people, single parents and the unemployed currently receiving allowances. Singles will receive a $210 lump sum payment while couples will receive $350.

Mr Melham said, “We’re returning the budget to surplus, on time, as promised.”

“Returning to surplus gives the Reserve Bank maximum flexibility to cut interest rates further, just like they did last week”.

Mr Melham said Interest rates were now lower than at any time under the previous Government, and a family on a $300,000 mortgage is now paying around $3000 a year less in repayments.

“The Gillard Government is also finding room to deliver reforms which make for a stronger community and a fairer society. Big reforms like the National Disability Insurance Scheme, a big new investment in dental health and Aged care reform,” said Mr Melham.

Contact:  Ella Barnett (McClelland)          02 9553 4111

                   Deborah May (Melham)            02 9774 2111

DARYL MELHAM MP
Member for Banks

More than 14,500 local families with kids in school will benefit from a new cash bonus delivered by the Gillard Government, Robert McClelland and Daryl Melham said today.

“I know that with kids in school, it can be tough for parents to keep up,” Mr McClelland said.

“That’s why the Gillard Government is delivering a new Schoolkids Bonus to help local families make ends meet.”

Eligible local families will receive a total of $410 a year for each child in primary school, and $820 a year for each child in high school.

The Schoolkids Bonus will be paid in two instalments – before the start of Term 1 and Term 3 – to help pay for school costs such as uniforms, text books, stationery and school excursions. 

It will replace the Education Tax Refund from 1 January 2013, and will be paid to the families of about 25,000 local kids in school.

Mr Melham said many local families couldn’t afford to wait until tax time to claim the Education Tax Refund.

“Some local families simply couldn’t wait months to get money back, and were missing out on the full amount they were entitled to,” Mr Melham said.

“This new payment means about 11,150 local families will get more cash,” he said.

“And about 2400 families in Barton and Banks didn’t claim the ETR at all last year – so they’ll get an extra $410 a year for each child in primary school and $820 for each high school student.

“The Schoolkids Bonus means parents will get extra support when they need it most. They will no longer have to pay first and then wait months to claim a refund at tax time,” said Mr Melham.

To help with the transition to the Schoolkids Bonus next year, the Federal Government will next month pay all eligible families in St George the full amount of the Education Tax Refund.

Mr McClelland said, “Local kids have just gone back to school for Term Two, and the costs for parents have already started piling up again.”

“By paying out the full refund next month, many families will receive an immediate boost to their budgets and won’t have to worry about that extra paperwork at tax time,” he said.

The Schoolkids Bonus will be available to local families receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A plus young people in school receiving Youth Allowance, as well as some income support and veterans’ payments recipients.

Contact:  Ella Barnett (McClelland)          02 9553 4111

                   Deborah May (Melham)            02 9774 2111

DARYL MELHAM MP
Member for Banks

Local MPs Robert McClelland and Daryl Melham today welcomed the announcement by the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard MP, and the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, that 70,300 homes and businesses in and around Barton and Banks will have access to National Broadband Network (NBN) fibre services under NBN Co’s first three year fibre rollout plan.

Local areas that will gain access to the NBN include Alexandria, Arncliffe, Banksia, Bardwell Park, Bardwell Valley, Belmore, Beverly Hills, Brighton-le-Sands, Campsie, Canterbury, Clemton Park, Earlwood, Eastlakes, Kyeemagh, Lakemba, Lugarno, Mascot, Narwee, Peakhurst, Peakhurst Heights, Punchbowl, Riverwood, Rockdale, Rosebery, Roselands, Turrella, Wiley Park and Wolli Creek.

Under the three year rollout plan, construction of the fibre network in these areas will begin progressively between 1 April 2012 and 30 June 2015.

“The NBN rollout is ramping up and is about to go into high gear,” said Mr Melham.

“In the next three years, 70,300 homes and businesses locally will be on the way to having access to fast, reliable broadband through the NBN’s fibre network” he stated.

The NBN will connect 93 per cent of homes and businesses around Australia to high-speed fibre broadband, capable of speeds of up to one gigabit per second. Seven per cent will have access to high-speed fixed-wireless or next-generation satellite technologies providing peak speeds of 12 megabits per second.

Mr McClelland said “The NBN is about more than just faster broadband. This is about supporting businesses around Australia to connect to new markets and find new, better ways of doing things to make their businesses more productive and more profitable.

“It’s about families getting online to access health and aged care services, it’s about people who need government services being able to access those online, and it’s about our kids getting access to world class education services, for example by being able to take a class at another school via the NBN,” Mr McClelland said.

Mr Melham said “The NBN will drive a new wave of digital innovation – changing the way Australians live, do business, receive services and connect with the world. The NBN is just the platform – the really exciting part is the new possibilities it opens up.”

NBN Co, the company building and operating the NBN, released its first 12 month rollout schedule in October 2011. That schedule, updated for the first time in February 2012, will be updated quarterly. The three year rollout plan will be updated each year.

There is an interactive searchable map on the NBN Co website. Visit www.nbnco.com.au/rollout/ and enter your address to see details for the NBN coming to

Contact:               Deborah May (Melham)               02 9774 2111
Ella Barnett (McClelland)          02 9553 4111

DARYL MELHAM MP
Member for Banks

ROBERT McCLELLAND MP
Member for Barton

The Southern Sydney community today threw their support behind a National Disability Insurance Scheme. 

Local people with disability, their families and carers, local service providers and advocacy groups met today in support of a National Disability Insurance Scheme at an event hosted by Member for Banks, Daryl Melham and Member for Barton, Robert McClelland.

Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers, Jan McLucas attended the forum today at the Hurstville Museum and Gallery to meet with locals and to update the community on the progress of this important reform.

Senator McLucas said the Gillard Government was getting on with the job to lay the foundations for a National Disability Insurance Scheme.

“The Australian Government is working to build a National Disability Insurance Scheme to make sure Australians with disability get the care and support they need, no matter where they live or how they acquired their disability,” Senator McLucas said.

The Australian Government has committed more than $10 million to work with the states and territories to lay the foundations for the launch of a National Disability Insurance Scheme.

“This is critical work to get disability services NDIS-ready – it includes things like developing a set of common assessment tools and establishing national quality standards.

A further $10 million is being invested for practical projects that look at how people with disability, their families, carers and service providers can make the transition to an NDIS.

“A National Disability Insurance Scheme has the potential to do for disability what Medicare did for health in this country, and what superannuation did for retirement savings,” she said.

Mr Melham said he was pleased with the interest and support by local residents and disability service providers for an NDIS and was determined to keep the momentum going.

“The strong attendance today is testament to the local community’s support for fundamental reform of disability care and support.

“It is fantastic to have so many sectors of our community here today showing their support for an NDIS; from our local council to transport providers, local community centres to representatives from our education system.

“I am pleased Senator McLucas is here in Southern Sydney listening to the views and experiences of our disability service providers who are working hard to support people with disability through local services and care programs.

Mr McClelland said an NDIS is a true Labor reform.

“Labor has always been about making sure no Australian is left behind and making sure everyone has the opportunity to reach their potential,” Mr McClelland said.

“A National Disability Insurance Scheme will deliver the kind of care and support we expect for people with disability, their families and carers.”

For more information on the NDIS, go to www.ndis.gov.au.

Media contact: Deborah May (Melham) 02 9774 2111 – Ella Barnett (McClelland) 02 9553 4111 – Belinda Featherstone (McLucas) 0408 743 457

As you are aware the Prime Minister advised me today that I will no longer continue to serve within her ministry.

I fully accept her decision.  In supporting Kevin Rudd in this week’s leadership contest I acknowledged that outcome was a distinct possibility.

Taking a stand on principle often has consequences. I was prepared to take those consequences.

I congratulate all those who have been appointed to new ministerial positions. They are good people and I wish them well.

I note the Prime Minister stated in her interview this afternoon that she made the appointments on the basis of merit. I think all who have been appointed are indeed meritorious.

I can indicate that in my brief discussion this morning the Prime Minister advised me that her decision was influenced by the fact that she believed I had gone further than other colleagues in public statements I made in support of Kevin.

Can I take this opportunity to place on the record that I had become extremely disappointed by the unseemly tone of public comments that had been made about Kevin which I felt unfairly belittled his legacy as Prime Minster and someone with impeccable Labor values.

In the absence other intervention I felt compelled to lend defence to a friend and colleague.

I appreciate the Prime Minister’s recognition of my service as a minister.  I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with so many talented people to advance a number of significant reforms.

Some of the more significant reforms included:

In the area of National Security:

• Greater co-ordination of our counterterrorism effort through the establishment of the Counter Terrorism Control Centre.
• While at the same time empowering communities to resist those who would exploit their youths through the countering violent extremism programme.

In the area of Cyber security:

• I developed laws to empower our law enforcement agencies to work with international partners to fight cyber crime in all its forms including most reprehensively the exploitation of children. And I established the Computer Emergency Response Team with my then Department.

In the area of Emergency Management:

• I worked with the States and Territories to establish a national emergency warning system that has sent out over 7 million alerts.
• We are now well on the way to building a location specific capability to be in place by the next bushfire season.

In the area of Civil Justice:

• I am proud that I was able to inject over $154 million into legal assistance for the most vulnerable Australians.
• Reforms in the area of family law have given greater protection to the victims of domestic violence.
• And with the assistance of the Federal Court, reform to civil practice has reduced judicial backlog and sped up the resolution of claims in a number of areas including native title.
• In particular, when I came to office as Attorney-General just four or five native title claims were resolved each year. Now we look like resolving about 75 matters this calendar year. And instead of 30 years we now look like we will break the backlog of claims in about five years.

Political life can have its down moments. Can I give you a tip?

The best antidote to that is to work with those who are helping our homeless. They are truly outstanding human beings.

I was pleased to carry on the work of former ministers which will deliver about 20,000 homes for social housing by the end of this year. With 80,000 being repaired and renovated.

Our homeless programs appear to be showing some encouraging results. Just yesterday I was pleased to read reports that there has been a 25% reduction in those who are sleeping rough in the Sydney CBD.

At an institutional level I was pleased to have had the opportunity to significantly overhaul anti discrimination laws, prohibit the reintroduction of capital punishment and while not entirely without controversy, I think the Labor Government’s Human Rights Framework will ensure that the rights of citizens remain foremost in the mind s of legislators now and into the future.

There is obviously much more that many people can be proud of and I sincerely thank them for their dedicated work.

I always found our public servants to be first class.

And I would like to place on the record my appreciation to my personal staff who are a group of fine young professionals.

And finally I just could not do this job without the support of my family Michelle, Katelyn, Jessica Claudia and son David. They have stood by me for every minute I have been in Parliament – 16 years today.

And finally I can confirm with the support of my wife, it is my intention to remain as the Member for Barton. I look forward to the additional time I will have to represent the interests of my constituents.

Thank you.

ENDS

Contact: Barton Electorate Office –  02 9553 4111

Mr McClelland said that assistance is being provided through the joint Commonwealth and State funded Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) to the local government areas of Greater Shepparton, Greater Bendigo, Mount Alexander and Indigo.

“Both the Commonwealth and Victorian governments are committed to assisting individuals and families affected by the severe storm and flooding,” Mr McClelland said.

Under the NDRRA, the following personal hardship and distress assistance is available:

• Emergency relief assistance, which provides payments of up to $480 per adult and $240 per child up to a maximum of $1,200 per household to cover emergency shelter, food, clothing, or personal items; and
• Emergency re-establishment assistance, which provides up to $30,000 per household for clean-up, emergency accommodation, repairs, rebuilding and replacing some damaged contents.

People who have suffered personal hardship and distress should contact their local Victorian Department of Human Services branch, call 1300 650 172 or visit www.dhs.vic.gov.au for further information about assistance.

Assistance is also available for the costs associated with the restoration of essential public assets and certain counter disaster operations.

“I commend the Emergency Services staff, volunteers and the affected Local Councils for their response to the severe storm and flood,” said Mr McClelland.

In relation to the ongoing heavy rains across South Eastern Australia, the Commonwealth Government has activated the Disaster Response Plan following a request from the Victorian Government for Australian Government support.

“The Commonwealth Government, through Emergency Management Australia, will continue to work closely with the Victorian Government to support families and communities through the response and recovery processes,” said Mr McClelland.

Information on the range of assistance that is available under the NDRRA can be found on the Disaster Assist website at www.disasterassist.gov.au

Contact: Des Ko – 02 6277 7667 or 0457 754 122

Through a National Partnership Agreement between the Victorian Government and the Australian Government, the Natural Disaster Resilience Grants Scheme contributes grants towards a range of emergency management projects.

Mr McClelland said “55 projects were approved for funding in Victoria and the Commonwealth Government contributed over $4 million towards these projects.

“The partnership approach between all levels of government and the community is helping to build a culture of shared responsibility to natural disasters between governments, non-government agencies and communities,” Mr McClelland said.

“Disaster resilience within Australian communities is essential due to the natural environment of our country,” Mr McClelland said.

“One organisation supported in the most recent round includes a contribution to the Australian Red Cross for the Red Cross Emergency Preparedness for Vulnerable Communities (EPVC) Program.  This program conducts training for community care workers,” said Mr Ryan.

“By working together, we can reduce the potentially devastating impacts of future natural disasters in Victoria and I encourage all eligible organisations to apply” Mr Ryan said.

For further details on eligibility for this program and an application form, visit www.oesc.vic.gov.au .  Grant submissions are required by close of business, Wednesday 11 April 2012.

Information on the Natural Disaster Resilience Program can be found at www.em.gov.au.

Contact:          Desmond Ko (McClelland)    02 6277 7667 & 0457 754 122

Claire Siddins (Ryan)             03 9651 1222  & 0429 507 541

The Australian Government is working with the New South Wales, Victoria and Australian Capital Territory Governments in preparation for and in response to the potential flooding from the heavy rains occurring over Central and South East Australia.

The Australian Government stands ready to provide assistance.

I urge people in these communities to heed the warnings being issued by their local and state authorities.

Do not risk your life by trying to drive, walk or ride through floodwaters.

If you see any water on the road ahead, turn around and find another route.

As the Emergency Services say “if it’s flooded – forget it”.

Water can be deeper and more powerful than it looks.

It is very difficult to turn back after you have entered the water.

Keep an eye on your DisasterWatch smartphone application for ongoing updates and listen to your local emergency services warnings.

Contact the SES helpline 132500, for all non-life threatening situations.

Remember that if you put yourself at risk, you are also putting at risk the lives and safety of the brave and dedicated first responders who will try to rescue you.

Media Contact: Des Ko - (02) 6277 7667

Chief Minister for the Northern Territory Northern Territory Minister for Police, Fire & Emergency Services
The Hon. Paul Henderson MLA

The Minister for Emergency Management, Robert McClelland, and Northern Territory Chief Minister and Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Paul Henderson have today encouraged organisations to apply for funds available as part of the 2012-13, Northern Territory Natural Disaster Resilience Program.

Through a National Partnership Agreement between the Northern Territory Government and the Australian Government, the Natural Disaster Resilience Program focuses on building resilience in communities to withstand natural disasters.

Mr McClelland said, “last year32 projects were approved for funding in the Northern Territory and the Commonwealth Government contributed over $1.6 million towards these projects.”

“The partnership approach between all levels of government and the community is helping to build a culture of shared responsibility to natural disasters between governments, non-government agencies and communities,” Mr McClelland said.

“Disaster resilience within Australian communities is essential due to the natural environment of our country,” Mr McClelland said.

“Our emergency response organisations do a fantastic job and it’s great to be able to support them to continue to do their good work,” said Mr Henderson.

Previous NT Natural Disaster Resilience Program funding recipients include:

• Darwin Volunteer Unit (NTES) Association
• Virginia Volunteer Fire Brigade Inc.
• Tennant Creek Volunteer Association Inc. (NTES)
• Darwin Volunteer Unit (NTES) Association
• Harts Range NTES Volunteer Unit
• Howard Springs Volunteer Fire Brigade
• Koolpinyah Volunteer Fire Brigade Inc.
• Milne Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade Inc.
• Surf Life Saving Northern Territory Inc
• Surf Life Saving Northern Territory Inc.
• Alice Springs Volunteer Unit NTES, and
• Cox Peninsula NTES Volunteer Unit

“By working together, we can reduce the potentially devastating impacts of future natural disasters in the Northern Territory and I encourage all eligible organisations to apply,” Mr Henderson said.

For further details on eligibility for each of the funding programs and their application forms, visit www.emergency.nt.gov.au. Grant submissions are required by 5pm, Friday 13 April 2012.

Information on the Natural Disaster Resilience Program can be found at www.em.gov.au.

Contact Media:

Des Ko (McClelland) (02) 6277 7667
Claire March (Henderson) (08) 8901 4078

Tasmanian Minister for Police and Emergency Management
David O’Byrne MP

The Commonwealth Minister for Emergency Management, Robert McClelland, and Tasmanian Minister for Police and Emergency Management, David O’Byrne has today encouraged organisations to apply for the 2012-13, Tasmanian Natural Disaster Resilience Program.

Through a National Partnership Agreement between the Tasmanian Government and the Australian Government, the Natural Disaster Resilience Program focuses on building resilience in communities to withstand natural disasters.

Mr McClelland said “last year 19 projects were approved for funding in Tasmania and the Commonwealth Government contributed over $1.2 million towards these projects.”

“The partnership approach between all levels of government and the community is helping to build a culture of shared responsibility to natural disasters between governments, non-government agencies and communities,” Mr McClelland said.

“Disaster resilience within Australian communities is essential due to the natural environment of our country,” Mr McClelland said.

“One organisation supported in the most recent round included a contribution to Glamorgan Spring Bay Council to develop a Combined Emergency Service Facility in Swansea. This facility will co-locate Council facilities, Fire, Ambulance, Police, SES and Coast Guard operation,” said Mr O’Byrne.

“By working together, we can reduce the potentially devastating impacts of future natural disasters in Tasmania and I encourage all eligible organisations to apply” Mr O’Byrne said.

For further details on eligibility for this funding program and the application form, visit www.ses.tas.gov.au. Grant submissions are required by Friday 30 March 2012.

Information on the Natural Disaster Resilience Program can be found at www.em.gov.au.

Media Contact:
Des Ko (McClelland) – (02) 6277 7667
Rowan Dix (O’Byrne)